Dogless circular-knitting machine.



G. L.- BALLARD. noeLEss -cmcuLAR KNmmG- MACHINE.

MFLICATIDN 'FILED MAY 22, 19H. A l

Patented' may 25, 1915.

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l AG. L, BALLARD. L noGLEss CIRCULAR KNLTLLNG- MACHINE.

APPLICATVION FILED MAY 22, 1914.v i l Patented May 25,1915.

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Lawson BALLARD, or' Nonnis'roWN, rniiixisiiyaiiia, nssIGNoR To WILDLIAN MFG. CO., A CORPORATION 03:" PENNSYLVANIA.

1 nociones CIRCULAR-annunci MACHINE.

To a, whom it may Concern y Be it known that GEORGE LAWSON BAL- LAnD, a subject of the Kingof Great Britain, residing at Norristown, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usei'uld Improvements in ogless Circular-Knitting Machines, ofv which the following is a speci- ".fication.

This invention is an improvement on -th` dogless type of circular knitting machine disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States granted, to nie December 26, 1911, #1,012,966.

My present invention concerns among' other features a fixed frame support for the dial instead of a support derived from therotary yoke shown in said patent which roi tates with the cam ring, my object here be- *ing tosustain the dial by a fixed frame piece or bracket entirely independent of any supporting or sustaining connection with the rotary cam ring or carrier in order that 'the dia-l may be maintained in a certain fixed relation to theA fixed cylinder and will not be affected in such relation because of any looseness, vside shake or play of the rotary cam ring due towear.

ln connection with this fixed frame or bracket l*for sustaining and maintaining the dial in active relation to the fixed cylinder, l employ driving means for the dial cap .or

` Vcam plate and for the `yarn carrier or bobhin stand, which driving` means is connected with the rotary cam carrier or box, this connection being such that the dial cap or cam vand the yarn guide carrier will not be unduly aii'ected by any irregularities in the movement of the' cylindercam ring due to wear.

Other objects ofy my invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described .and particularly pointedA out V.in `the appended claims.

.ln the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a centralyertical Sectional View of a knittiner machine head with my invention connected therewith, the section of this View being taken substantially on the line l-1 m lfim, parts beine; shownin elevation;

Figi'. is :i sectional View similar to the Lipper part ot Fig. l but substantially on the line fx1-J2 of Fig. il; Fig. 3 is aplan View Specification of Iietters Patent. Application led. May 22,'1914. Serial No. 840,379.

I I"1tented May 25, 1915.

substantially on the lineB-f-f (if Fig. 1, with' cap will be rotated with the cylinder cam ring, and this connection I will referV to later. Y

In ainachine of this character the thread guides must rotate, and for this purpose a rotary ring' or plate 6 is employed, this'r0- tatine' about thevdial post 7, and for driving this ring or plate 6 a rod 9 is employed haying a. t' "ked end engaging a pin 9a at the top of ine post 5. The rod 9 has a collar at senno f tice to the main base ring 1a of the knitting its inner end which is clamped at 9 to 'a depending sleeve G" of the rotary plate or ring- 6. This rotary plate has fixed thereto the threadI guides or eyes l0, and it has thread guide openings 11 in alinement with the guide openings through the eyes 10. The dial post 7, extends as usual down through the dial cap, and is connected with the dial or a sleeve extension thereof by a pin 12. Fr supporting the'iotary plate 6 and 'also for holdingr the dial post 7 against rotation, a frame ringl isemployed surrounding.,r ythe dial post and supported by brackets or arms 14, oneorr more. secured to and'extending up fromthe xed base l ring 1a. 16 indicates locking' bolts which slide in (grooves 18 of a cap 19 which lis fixed to vthe dial post as will hereinafter be described.

The bolts 16 slide radially and are adapted,4

when projected, to enter notches 17 in the fitaniering 13 and when in this position they perform their function of connecting' the cap 19 to the frame ring 13, so as to hold said cap against rotation, and as the cap is cnnected as above mentioned rigidly to the dial post. the dial post will be held against rotation. ln order to allow for the` rotation of the thread guides 10 which, as abovedescribed, are Fixed to and rotate 'with the 'l plate or -ringr 6, the/locking bolts 16 are re-v tracted in succession to allow the thread guides or eyes to pass by, and for this pur-` posethe said lockingY boltsv are provided with depending pins 22 and the rotary ring or plate G is provided with a retreating cani 2l so that, as sho'wn in Fig. ,3, as the thread guide, together With the plate (i,k rotates in. the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3, the cani' f thread guide approaches it, and after thev 20 thread'guide passes .this bolt is projected outwardly; IIn other words, the-series. of' bolts, of which I have shown tour in the present case, are retracted in succession.l but the arrangement is such that soiiie of the 425 bolts'a-re always-outward in their locking ppsition, thus serving to hold the cap plate 1l against rotation and conseqiientlythe dial /post isheld against movement.

. Fig. 3 showsafone-ifeed machine, there 3d being "two .thread Yeyes,showen-er, at the j thread Acarrier10.y @The machine maybe iequippedwitli afplurallity vof thread guides,

if desi-red; in ii'ihicb` easeotherewould be cams 21 landfQfBjor eacli',giiide,.liiit in any case tliere'woiilf' be more lockingr bolts than lthread guides Sotliat some.` of the bolts would always hold the dial post a'gainst rotation.

' The 'cap platelf) is connected with the 40 dial post by a pin 19 extending; up therefrom which is borne upon bv adjusting screws 31 on each side of the pin, these ad- "f" fusting screws being carried by a collar 32 vsurrounding the dial post, which collar, in

turn, is keyed at`20 to the dial post. For

adjusting"` the dial vertically, the col-lar 32 has a' screw-'threaded extension 33 upon 4 which .a nutfZS is screwed, said nut` having a recess receiving a pin 29 extending J 5o through the dial post 7. The rotary plate G is 'supported by-resting upona ring '34 secured to the under side of the fixed'frame 'ring 13. and extending inwardlyunder the edge of the. said plate 6. lt will be seen o5 from the above that the dial post is rigidlysupported and' rigidly held against any lateral deflection by its connection with the ixed 'base l through the intermediary of the arms 14, the fixed frame ring 13, the

bolts 16, the cap piece lflfaiid the connection t'i'oni this cap piece to the'dial post which includes the key 20, collar 39,. and pin 19. 'l`lio rigid 'traine rino; and brackets also support the ring or plate and` thus substantially all parts, with the exception be in projected position to lclip.

of the driving connection 5,-9, are supported by these rigid frame' parts 'consisting ofthe ring 13 and standards 1,4.

As before stated', the ring 6 is driven' I from the post 5 on the cam ring by the link or rod 9 having a forked endengi'aging.the`

pin 9 at the top of the post 5.v Because off this forked construction any irregular movenient of the cam ring diie to wear will not beA imparted to the plate .6 in such manner vvas 7 both because of the fact thatA the pin 9*V engages the yfork and can have movement therein, and also because oit the rigid sup-,.

portingA frame above dcscribedte which the' post is connected. Any wavering or lateral play of the cam ring-4 will be taken .up by' the loose connection between the Pin 9,` and the driving arin 9. ln' order to secure adjiistiiientufor Iindexing, or in other words. for. aflii`isti`iic",r the dial circuniferentially in"relatioii to the cylinder to properly space tlieneedles, the screws El are provided hearing on 'opposite sides ol' the pin 10. and as these screws are in the part or collar l'nhicli .is directly keyed to the dial post. and as the pin 19 is `the fixed traine-and consequently the dial 'carried thereby can be adiusted',eirciimfereiitiallyin relation tothe lixed cylinder, and thus proper indexing ot the needles may be secured. l K 'j' Referring: to the connection S for rotat# ingr the dial cap 3. the rod S for this purpose. is connected with the vdi'al capA by the screw 35. Thisrod is held to the ,driving post 5 by a clip 3G. the rod being Screwthreaded and passing through the clip, nuts` 37 being proi'idedto hold, the rod in th This construction provides for a' justment, and tlietightcning' up of the mit! 110 to secure the proper adjustment serves to olainp the clipto the driving.;` post. Itwill be `observed that the connection S extends ,nearly tangential in relation to the dial cap,

and because of this anytwayeijng of the post l5 due to irregular nioieiiioiits ofthe rotary cani ring: because ot 'play or' wear of said rin.;r will not unduly atleet' vthe p'osif tion of the dial cap ,33. and will iitvlilflng strain or pressure upon'tlie dial post, liecausc should the connection5` `have slight longitudinal movement due to ii'avering otI the driving post 5. the only ellect ot' this `would be to turn the dial circumferentially about the post, but the post would not be` would be no.I

pressed laterally` and there strainkqii theparts u A 'l`he` coiiiiems 9 and S tor rotatirngr the 4tlirrad guido plate (i and the dial cani or cap arc both in the nature ot loose or oompen-' 7e to atl'ect tlieiaxial position of thedial post v Maiaiiiiw eating connections in the sense that bothy provide .for wavering of the cylinder cam -ring.l Without affecting the propeil relation of thedial and cylinder.

vIt will be observed that the dial post is sustained against vertical displacement by thepin 9,9. resting on the nut 28 attached to the collar 32 which Irests upon and is-.centered -in thejcap plate l9vwhich, in turn, restsupon the ,thread guide plate' and the latter in turn rests upon the ring 34 attached to the fixed frame ring '13. This frame ring therefore isthe elementwhich supports the dial post and dial entirely independent of the rotary cam ring and .against vertical displacement, and also y againstI lateral displacement by reason ofthe radially disring.

posed sliding boltsf engaging this fixed frame I claim as my invention: i

In combination in a circular knitting machine, a fixed cylinder, a cyl-inder cam ring, a dial, a `dial cap carrying cams, a dial ,ment, and independently ofthe cylinder cam ring, jsaid dial'post being sustained by said thread guide plat-find frame ring against verticaldisplacement, cam means carried by the rotary thread' guide plate for operating 'the'shiftable connections, and' drivin means for'the rotary thread plate and the ial cam 'cap extending from the cam.. cylinder.v

2. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a fixed needle cylinder, a dial, a dial ca-m carrieigadial post, a cylinder cam ring,

l a frame ring, supporting means extending to the fixed frame for holding said ring against vertical and.4 circumferential displacen'ient, a [connection between said frame ring and the' dialfpost for holding e same against rotation, a rotary thread guide plate sustainedby the frame ring andinturn susdial oa fcarrier and the cylinder cam ring,

taining the dial post, and driving lmeans be` ytween ltha-.rotary thread guide plate and substan ially as described;

3. v111i combination in a circular knitting machinaal xed needle cylinder, a dial, a dial cam carrier, a dial post, a cylinder cam ring, a frame ring, supporting meansv eX- tending to" the fixed frame Vfor holding said ring againstl vertical and circumferential displacement, a connection between said "frame ring and the dial post for holdingv the saine against rotation, a rotary thread "guide plate, supported on thefixed frame ring' and in turn holding the dial lpost against vertical displacement and driving means between the rotary thread guide plate i and dial cam carrier and the cylinder cam ring, said drivingI means compensating for any irregularities in the movement of the rotary cylinder cam ring, substantially as described. .Y

4. ln -combination ina circular knitting machine, a fixed needle cylinder. a rotary cylinder cam ring, a dial and dial post, a dial cam cap, :iframe ring, a support eX-y tending therefrom to the fixed frame of the machine for holding the frame ring against circumferential and vertical displacement, a connection between said frame ring and the dial post for holding the same against rotation, a rotary thread guide plate within the frame ring, a compensating connection between the thread vguide plate'and the cyl inder cam ring. and a second compensating connection between the dial cam cap and the said cyl-inder cam ring, substantially as de-` scribed. l

5. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a iixed needle cylinder, a rotary lcam ring therefor, a dial and dial post, a

dial cam cap, a rotary thread guide Jplate',

ea, frame ring within which said thread guide plate rotates and is supported against vertical displacement, 'supporting means between the frame ring and the fixed frame of the machine for holding the framevring` against vertlcal and circumferential displacement, a cap piece aboveA the thread guide plate fixed to the dial post, radially movable locking means between the fixed frame ring and the cap piece, a cam on the ing means in succession for the passage of `thread guide plate for retracting' said lockthe thread guide, and compensating driving means between the thread guide plate and the dial cani cap and the revolving cylinder cani ring, substantially as described. f.

In combination in a' circular .knitting machine. a ,fixed needle cylinder, a rotary cam ringrtherefor, a dial, a dial post, a dial cam cap.,a Xed' ring, locking connections between the fixed ring and the dial post for holding the dial post against rotation, a supporting connect-ion between the fixed ring and the iiXedframe of the machine for holding said ring against displacement vertically and circumferentially, a thread guide plate rotating within the fixed ring and .sup-

ported Athereby against vertical displacement, said thread guide plate sustaining the dial post against vertical displacement, cam means on the rotary thread guide plate for operating the locking Iconnections between the fixed-ring and /the dial post, a post ex` tending up from ,the cylinder/cam'ringr/ainder cam ring, and means for rotating the dial cam cap in unison with the' rotary radially extending arin'coniiected with the cain cap, a fixed frame member with means for supporting the dial therefrom against vertical or lateral displacement, a rotary cam ring for the needle cylinder, a post extending up therefrom, .and a compeiisatingA connection between the said post and the dial cam cap to compensate for irregularities in the movement of the rotary cam ring, substantially as described.

S. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a fixed cylinder, a dial and dial cam cap, 'a fixed frame member with means for supporting the dial therefrom against vertical or lateral displacement, a rotary cam ring for the needle cylinder, a post eX- tending up therefrom, and a connection between the said post and the dial cam cap to compensate for irregularities in the movement of the rotary cam ring, said connection consisting of a rod extending from the post at an inclination to the radii of the dial cam cap, substantially as described.

9. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a fixed cylinder and dial, a rotary cam ring for the cylinder, a rotary' dial cam cap, a post extending up from the cylinder cam ring, and a connection from said post to the dial cam cap comprising a clip embracing the post, a rod passing through the arms of the clip and screw-threaded, said rod being connected to the dial cam cap, and nuts on the rod for adpisting the same and for clamping the clip to the post, substantially as described.

10.- Iii combination in a circular knitting machine, a fixed needle cylinder, a rot-ary ca m ring therefor, a dial and dial post, a dial cam cap, a frame ring, means for holdH ing said frame ring against vertical and circumferential displacement, said means extending from tliefixed frame of the machine, locking connections between the frame'ring and the dial post, a rotary "t-lirea d guide plate, sustained by the fixed frame ring and in turn sustaining the dial post, means revolving with the rotary thread guide plate for operating the locking connections, ine-.ins for adjusting the dial post circumferentially in relation to its locking connections, and a driving connection between the thread guide plate and the cylinder cam ring and between the said cam ring andthe dial cap, substan tially as described: ,y

11. In combination in a circular knitting cam ring thei'eo'r, a'dial,` a rotary dialicam' cap, a dial post, a fixed frame ring, means.-

for supporting said 'frame ring against vvertical or circumferential displacement, l'said .machinc,`a fixed needle cylinder, a rotary 4means extending tol the lfixed frame of the and the cap piece to permit circumferential adjustment of the dial post for indexing, locking connections between vthe iixed frame ring and the cap piece, a rotary thread guide plate supported against verticaldisplace ment bythe iixed frame ring, means on said thread guide plate for operating the lockingr connections ,for the passage of the thread guide, a loose driving connection between the thread guide plate and the cylinder cam ring, and means for driving the dial cap in as described.

12. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder and dial, rotary needle cam carriers for' each of said` parts, a

`unison with the said cam ring, substantially post for supporting one of said parts in fixed relation to the other, a frame ring supported from the fixed frame of the machine against vertical or circumferential displacement and independent of the needle cam carrier, a. plurality of shiftable locking connections be-` tween said frame ring and the said post, a rotary thread guide plate also supported by thesaid framering against 'vertical displace` mei/it, said post being supported by said rotar' tbliad guide plate against vertical displacement, and driving means for the rotary thread plate and one of the cam carriers extending from the ,other cam carrier, substantiaily as. described. p 13. In combination needles, needle cam carriers, a cylinder and dial with a post for supporting one olf said parts, a frame ring, supporting means to sustain said frame ring against vertical or circumferential displacement and independent of either carrier las a support therefor, and shiftable connections between said frame ring and the aid Vpost to hold it against rotation,*saidqpiost being supported against vertical displciient from ythe lframe ring, substantially1 as described,

iooy 

